Well-drilling bit



' P. W. SMITH;

WELL DRILLING BIT: 7 APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20.1921

Patenf/edSept. 5, 1922.

Patented Sept. 5, 1922.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

'I'BIMUS w. SMITH; or JUNoTIon CITY, TEXAS, .ASSIGNOR or ONE-EIGHTH 'ro JOHN J.

, BOOKHOUT AND JAMES R. BooKHo-Ur, BOTH or DALLAS COUNTY, TEXAS.

- WELL-DRILLING BIT.

Application filedJune 20,

T all whom it may concern: i

citizen of the United States,residing at vention is to provide a self centering bit'l which may be used advantageously'as apilot Junction City, in the county ofGeary and. State of Texas, have inventedcertain new:. and useful-Improvements in Well-Drilling Bits, of which the following is specification. a. a

This invention'relates tov new and usefulimprovements in well drilling bits.

The object of the invention is to provide a bit which will have a faster cutting action than=the ordinary fish tail bit andfiwhich. will maintain a round hole as well as a;

straight holef Another object of the in drill for a larger drillingtool, but which is equally as eflicient when used alone.

' is a reduction in the expenserof production;

' of the invention resides in the provision of.

A further feature of the inventionis the;

the bit will not operate on a horizontal production of a bit in which the blades may be disassembled so as to be readily sharpened. An' advantage of such a construction and a simple structure. Another advantage "means for directing a fluid, such as water,

down the facesof the blade to clean the cutters.

Another object of the invention is to pro- 1 vide a bit whose blades are self sustaining.v

I by reason of the contact of. their'inner vertical edges throughout the entire lengthofthe A construction designed to carryout the invention will be hereinafter described together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following sped-- fication andby reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an example of the invention is shown and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a VlGWlIllGViLtlOIl ot a bit constructed in accordance with" my invention and attached to a drill pipe by an ordinary collar, which latter is shown insectiom 1921. Serial No; 478,779.

- removed,

Fig. 8 .is a cross sectional view through the head of the bit and showing the underlying blades in plan, and

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view on the line A 4-,4 of Fig. l. v

In the drawings the numeral 10 designates a blade section ofwhich three are shown as forming my bit. Each section comprises a blade 11, which is disposed radially and vertically, and terminates at its lower end in a laterally directed cutter 12 curved in a clock-wise direction and reduced in thickness toa cutting edge which is slightly inclined toward the center of the bit. The result of this construction is to produce a cut- 1 jting point 131at the outer edge of the cutter.

Further the three cutters at the bottom of .bit from being displaced laterally, thus assuring a round and straight hole.

Each blade section 10 is merged into a head sector 14: and these sectors when assembled produce an annular and upwardly tapered externally screw threaded head which isadapted to screw into the lower end of a drill collar 15, or other connection which, is usually mounted on the lower end of a drill pipe or tool shank 16. It will be seen that some means must be provided for holdin the blade sections together and unit ing the sectors 14: in such a manner that the threads-will aline in proper order. c As is shownin Figs. 3 and 4, the blade sections are beveled so as to fit closely wher- ,ever;they contact. It is pointed out that each blade has its entire inner vertical edge extending from end' to end and substantially coincident with the vertical axis of the drill. The :inner edge of each blade is beveled and these beveled edges contact to brace the blades, one against the other. I It will be noted that the cutting edges radiate and extend from a common point at the center of the drill. This provides continuous cutting edges across the bottom of the drill and obviates cavities in which gumbo and bits of rock may lodge. One of the sectors 14: carries a dowel pin 17 which engages in a socket 18 in the next adjacent sector. The hi d s ct i pro ed t a pair of ewel P l9 proj i fr it diverging fa s as is best shown in Fig. 3, so'a's to enter sockets 20 in the other two sectors when the parts are assembled. It is to be specifically understood that any suitable means may be employed and the dowel pins illustrated are merely one expedient which has been found satisfactory.

Each sector 14 is surmounted by a reduced shank 21 disposed concentrically so that a shoulder 22 is produced at its intersection with said sectors. These shanks are tapered and externally screw threaded so as to produce an annular screw threaded'studwhen the blade sections are assembled; retainring or collar 23, is screwed onto the stud and acts to fasten the blade sections together. The diameter of the ring such as to leave an'annular space surrounding it between said ring and the collar 15, thus )r'oviding a passage for water and other fluids which pass through said collar 15. The retaining ring is merely a fastening for holding the sections together so that'they' may be properly screwed into the collar 15, the engagement of the head in the collar being depended upon to hold the sections in rigid Po iti n- In order that the blades 11, and the cutters 12 may be kept clean and thoroughly flushed, water ports or courses 2% are provided in each sector let. Each course 24 extends downwardly from the shoulder 22 to the bottom the. sector which overhangs the advance side of the blade 11, whereby the water will be directed down the face of the blade and onto the cutters 12 as is obvious. The character and location of the water courses is optional and may be employed and located as found most desirable. Indrilling through some strata a copious supply of water is necessary, whereas in drilling through strata of a different nature very little water is necessary. The water courses are an important feature of the invention.

It is obvious that the cutters 12 will wear and the blades must be sharpened and new cutters formed thereon. It would'be more difficult to sharpen the blades in their assembled relation in the bit. However, when the bit is removed from the drill collar, it is merely necessary to unscrew the retaining ring '23 and separate the sections1O in order to handle each blade its cutting edge separately. By this arrangement theblades may be expeditiously sharpened and reassembled at a minimum expense and in a highly satisfactory manner. Further if one of the blades should be broken it can be easily replaced. It is pointed out that any desirable shape may be given to the cutters 12 and the invention contemplates various modificationsalong this line.

It is obvious that this bit will maintain its a ial s immest n dr lliii the hel as t three blades will give it "an equal bearing on all sides of the hole and prevents its lateral displacement. By reason of its three cutting edges it will work much faster and function more efficiently. While I have illustrated a bit composed of three blade sections it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to such a number, although the best results have been had by using more than two blades or cutting edges.

lVhat I claim, is: i

1. In a deep well drilling bit, aplurality of elongated blades, each having its inner vertical edge extending from end to end and contacting with the inner vertical edges of the other blades along the vertical axis of the drill, each blade projecting radially from the center of the drill and having a radial cutter at its lower edge extending from the lower end of its'inner vertical edge, a segmental head sector at the upper end of each blade, said sectors uniting in a cylindrical head, and means for fastening the sectors together.

2. In a deep well drilling'bit, a plurality of elongated blades, each having its inner vertical edge extending from 6nd 9 6. 4 a

contacting with the inner vertical edges of the other blades along the vertical axis of the drill, each blade projecting radially from the center of the drill and having a radial cutter at its lower edge extending from the lower end of its inner vertical edge, a segmental head sector at the upper en of each blade, said sectors uniting in a cylindrical head, and means for fastening the sectors together, each sector having a water passage discharging onto the advance side of the blade;

8. In a well drilling bit, a plurality of elongated blades'having their entire inner edges in contact along the vertical axis of the bit, each blade having its lower edge reduced to a cutter extending radially from the center of the bit, each cutterbeing inclined outwardly anddownwardly from the inner vertical edge'of the blade, each cutter having its outer extremity curved forwardly in its direction of rotation, an integral head sector at the upper end of each blade, and

means for fastening the sectors together.

4. In a deep well drilling bit, a plurality of elongated blades having their entire inner edges in contact along the vertical axis of thebit, each'blade having its lower edge reduced to a cutter extending radially from the center of the bit, the inner vertical edges of the blades being beveled and lying in substantially close contact, and means for fastening the blades together.

5. In a deep Well drilling bit, three or more elongated ,blades having their inner vertical edges beveled and in contact, each blade having its lower end reduced to a cutter which extends radially from the center of the bit, whereby cutting edges are pre- 10 sented entirely across the bottom of the bit, and means for fastening the bits together.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

PRIMUS W. SMITH. 

